Ground beef is such a simple ingredient. Of course it’s easy to find and I pretty much always have a couple packs in my freezer. I always buy either 15-20% fat. There are so many ways to add seasoning and change up the flavor of this versatile ingredient. These are 3 of my favorite comfort food recipes that all have ground beef as the star ingredient!

Traditional and Cheeseburger Tacos

Cheese Taco Shells

You will Need:

• 1/3 cup of blended Mexican Cheese for Each Taco Shell you want to make.

• Silicone Baking Sheet or Parchment Paper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

2. Add 1/3-cup mounds of shredded cheese to the pan, leaving plenty of space between them. Bake until the edges are brown and the middle of each has fully melted, about 7 minutes.

3. Set the pan a the cooking rack. Quickly, Bend the shells into a taco shape. I like to use the edge or a storage container lined with parchment paper. You can get creative with what you want to bend them over. As they cool, they will harden.

Traditional Taco Filling

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 pound ground beef

• 1/4 onion, diced

• Salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 cup shredded cheese

• 1/4 cup shredded lettuce

• Hot sauce

• 6 Halved Grape Tomatoes

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring regularly, until fully cooked.

2. Construct you tacos! Take a fully cooled taco shell and go crazy. In traditional Tacos, I like lettuce, cheese, and halved grape tomatoes and hot sauce.

Cheeseburger Taco Filling

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 pound ground beef

• 1/4 onion, diced

• Salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 cup shredded cheese

• 1/4 cup shredded lettuce

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil mayonnaise, I like Primal Kitchen.

• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

• 1/4 cup pickle slices

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring regularly, until fully cooked.

2. Construct you tacos! Take a fully cooled taco shell and go crazy. For the Cheeseburger Tacos, Stuff the cheese shells with the beef, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise, mustard, and pickle slices.

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEEF

• 1 pound bacon

• 1 tablespoon ghee

• 1 pound ground beef (you can also use Ground Turkey)

• Pink salt

• Freshly ground

• black pepper

FOR THE CASSEROLE

• 1 tablespoon ghee

• 1⁄2 cup heavy (whipping) cream

• 4 large eggs, beaten

• 3⁄4 cup shredded cheese

• Pink salt

• Ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until both sides are crispy. Cool for 5 minutes on a paper towel lined plate. Transfer to a cutting board and chop the bacon.

2. In a second large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the ghee. Add beef and brown. Season with pink salt and pepper.

3. Once the meat is browned, after about 8 minutes, drain the fat and mix in the chopped bacon.

TO MAKE THE CASSEROLE

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with the ghee.

2. Spoon the beef-and-bacon mixture into the bottom of baking dish making a bottom layer.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream, eggs, and half of the cheese, and season with pink salt and pepper. Pour over the meat.

4. Top with the remaining half of the cheese.

5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and lightly browned.

6. Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Green Chile Meatballs

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 lb ground beef

• 1/4 lb ground pork

• 1/4 can canned green chiles

• 1/4 cup crushed pork rinds

• 1 large egg

• 2 tsp taco seasoning

• 1/2 cup salsa verde

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

2. In a bowl, mix the beef, pork, green chiles, pork rinds, egg, and taco seasoning.

3. Form the mixture into 8 meatballs and place in a baking dish.

4. Pour the salsa verde over the meatballs. Cover the dish with the aluminum foil.

5. Bake for 30 minutes, uncovering the dish for the last 5 minutes.